The Globe and Mail reports in its Friday, Aug. 11, edition that Manulife Financial posted better-than-expected earnings as the reopening of Hong Kong's border pushed insurance and wealth sales beyond prepandemic levels. The Globe's Clare O'Hara writes that Manulife posted a 4-per-cent increase in core earnings of $1.6-billion or 83 cents a share for the second quarter of 2023. The Globe says core earnings is an adjusted profit figure used by Manulife. That is up from $1.5-billion or 76 cents a share a year earlier. The profit came from "double-digit sales" in several areas of the company, chief executive officer Roy Gori said, particularly in Asia where sales have surged after the reopening of the Hong Kong border with mainland China. Mr. Gori said: "Asia has really been leading the charge for us in sales. We feel really great about our overall sales results, but particularly pleased to see our Asia business really start to see more positive momentum after feeling the effects of the pandemic a bit later than most of the world." Manulife is the second Canadian insurer to reap the benefits of Asia's economic recovery. Sun Life Financial reported on Tuesday a 14-per-cent jump in adjusted earnings -- largely driven by stronger insurance sales in Asia.